One of the issues I have with police issuing notices for public help is how quick they clam up to the public after they receive this help or the matter is dealt with. I'll use the example over the weekend of a woman who was, apparently, abducted by her ex-fiance. Saskatoon Police issued pictures and statements as well as other information alerting the public to be on the watch for a couple of specific vehicles and also to use caution as this ex-fiance was considered to have access to firearms and is dangerous. Well, late Sunday night, the woman was found and police announced they were no longer looking for the ex-fiance but didn't say anything else. Like Hello! I'm wondering if the public should still be concerned that a guy who has access to guns may still be walking the street poised to kidnap a person he isn't happy with. Or, was this man falsely accused? It would be good if things were cleared up. If you want to involve the public, I think it's great. Strength in numbers when it comes to searching for people. But, you also have to involve Joe Public once you have located people too.
If you are one of these people who struggle to use a garbage can, then I am talking to you in this paragraph. Don't shop for groceries with food in your hands. I was at a supermarket last week and discovered somebody threw their half empty cup of pop on the shelf with the groceries. This is disgusting and rude. I can't imagine what your house looks like. I posted a picture of it on social media and learned the same thing happened in February at the RV show. Every night, a worker would go through the units and find all kinds of cups and garbage just left in there. This is incredible to me. If you do this, shame on you.
Businesses that continue to stick their head in the sand and ignore social media as an effective way to get out a message are soon going to be left behind. I think more needs to be done from companies to promote their brand because when something negative happens, it spreads on a social media site faster than a forest fire. The reason is that people need to vent and it's easy to do so on a platform where you aren't really confronting anyone. I'll use the example I saw over the weekend where a friend of mine got a bad meal (moldy pastry) at one of Yorkton's food establishments. He posted a picture and sent a statement in to head office detailing his experience. I have no reason to doubt my friend and the picture he took says it all. It's very likely to affect my choice when selecting a place to eat in the future and there isn't a whole lot that can be done to change my mind.
One of the more popular gripes I see from retail customers is the lack of English (as a first language) workers who serve customers. To this, I say you have no beef. There are so many first language speaking English people who choose not to work because certain jobs are 'beneath them' that there really should be no need for temporary foreign workers. Canadian citizens have done this to themselves and can look in the mirror for blame if they are frustrated with a particular experience in the retail world.
Use your brains when on social media and make sure you educate your children that who you are messaging may not be who you think. In Toronto last week, two boys were forced to hand over their smartphones and cash after messaging three girls on Facebook. The girls asked the boys to come over to their house and when they did, they were met by a group of five teens and were robbed at knifepoint.
The United States has released five very dangerous high ranking Taliban officials into Qatar in exchange for the last known American Prisoner of War. It's easy to say a 5-for-1 trade doesn't make sense and never should have taken place, but when you are dealing with human life, you can't just disregard a decision because 5-for-1 isn't fair. It's a tough call. All lives are valuable. What isn't tough is digging further in to this story. The POW walked away from his post and was caught by the Taliban immediately. He chose to leave the American base. Some may even call him a deserter. It may be harsh, but when you sign up to be a soldier, there are certain things that apply to you that do not apply to the common person. One of those things is that if you leave your team, then your team is no longer obligated to get you home safe. Especially if getting you home safe means sending five dangerous felons back into the world to kill more innocent people. I'm on the record as being opposed to this exchange.
True story: a survey amongst felons say that 74% will avoid breaking into houses because they fear being shot during the crime.
Nice person mentions this week to Kerrie Johnson, Tamara Genaille, Memory Delorme-Antoine, Laura Krantz, and Amber Sangwais.
